Santai Muay Thai Gym was given the opportunity to interview an anonymous group of Bangkok Stadium Judges and Referees.

1. In your opinion, what is the main difference between Bangkok Stadium fighting and International fighting?

A little different, in Thailand the fighters fight after the order of the corner, trainer and gambling involved often underestimating the importance if the early rounds (they are wrong). 

International fighting, fighters have other goals, no gambling involved so the fight starts right away with not much thoughts on winning what round or saving energy for the later rounds to finish winning the last rounds (in Bangkok this is very important).

2. What do you think separates Thai fighters from Western fighters? ( Top level )

Thai fighters train hard, Fight often and cut weight very close to the fight (weigh in the same day ) and don’t use much science in cutting weight. Sometimes cutting weight in strange ways copying their Trainers weight cut regimen. Foreigners train more scientifically and spend more time cutting weight and not fighting as often. Foreigners also usually have a big fan club and celebrate the wins more than Thai fighters.

3. At the moment many Foreign fighters take lots of opportunities to throw, sweep and dump in the fights while you can read in different organisations that dumping is a foul, Lumpinee Stadium – (“toom”, dumping is a foul) and Board of Boxing Sport – (Throwing the opponent to the floor without using Muay Thai fighting weapons is not awarding points) for example. What is your view of this and how do you judge?

This depends on how fighters was taught by their trainers to take advantage of their opponent. This is not sportsmanship and the referee has to be determined not let the fighters do what is wrong or they will continue to do wrong more and more.

4. Do you think the Champions from the ‚ÄúGolden Era” are better than today’s Champions?

Today there is too many organisations and events, known and unknown crowning Champions making it less valuable and less prestigeous being a Champion. In the golden era it was harder to become a Champion because there was not many Stadiums and events making Title fights so the Champions of those days were a bigger deal / more valuable than today’s Champions.

5. How much is the audience and corner effecting the judging when they give signals about them winning the rounds and the “OOOEEYY” in the fights?

Sometimes it might make a difference but we judges and referees have to stick to the 6 rules we have.